IllustrationTHE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED. *JB
1999 Lexus RX300
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most RX300 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Lexus RX300 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 88.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RX300 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
225–50K
2050–75K
3775–100K
60100–150K
23150K+
149 reports with mileage · 72 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports10 fire reports11 injury reports
Tires complaints
7 reportsI THOUGHT THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY FILLED OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE WITH NHTSA, SO THIS MAY BE A DUPLICATE, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE IT SO I THOUGHT TO FILE A SECOND ONE. THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR FENDER BENDER IN WHICH A PLYMOUTH VOYAGER HIT THE REAR LEFT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. MY WIFE (SOP…
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I THOUGHT THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY FILLED OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE WITH NHTSA, SO THIS MAY BE A DUPLICATE, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE IT SO I THOUGHT TO FILE A SECOND ONE. THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR FENDER BENDER IN WHICH A PLYMOUTH VOYAGER HIT THE REAR LEFT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. MY WIFE (SOPHIA ROSLIN), WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND THE OTHER DRIVER, EXCHANGED INSURANCE INFORMATION BUT DID NOT INTEND TO FILE A CLAIM AS THE DAMAGE SEEMED MINOR. SOPHIA THEN PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ATTENDED A BIRTHDAY PARTY THAT MY 3 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS ATTENDING. AFTER THE PARTY, APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES LATER, SOPHIA AGAIN BEGAN DRIVING THE CAR AND HEADED HOME. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE, AND WITHOUT FEELING ANY PULLING, DRAGGING OR TUGGING, SOPHIA WAS ALERTED BY GOOD SAMARITAN THAT THE REAR LEFT TIRE WAS ON FIRE (UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T RECALL THE MAKE OR MANUFACTURERE OF THE TIRE, BUT IT WAS THE STANDARD TIRES THAT COME WITH THE LEXUS RX300). SOPHIA ESCAPED THE CAR ALONG WITH MY DAUGHTER. THE FIRE WOUND UP ENGULFING THE VEHICLE, MELTING THE CAR SEAT AND TOTALLING THE CAR. *AK
GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES (P225/70R16) WERE NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE ACCORDING TO A DEALER, THREE OF THE CONSUMER'S TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS OR HAVE GONE FLAT. *SLC
WE HAVE HAD 3 TIRE FAILURES WITHIN 20 MONTHS OF OWNING OUR LEXUS RX-300. GOODYEAR IS TELLING US THAT LEXUS SHOULD NOT USE THIS TIRE ON AN SUV, IT IS A CAR TIRE, AND USE OF THIS TIRE ISN'T APPROVED BY GOODYEAR. THE TIRE SIDEWALL IS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT BECAUSE THE SUV IS HEAVIER THAN A CAR. LEXUS HAS SINCE SWITCHED…
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WE HAVE HAD 3 TIRE FAILURES WITHIN 20 MONTHS OF OWNING OUR LEXUS RX-300. GOODYEAR IS TELLING US THAT LEXUS SHOULD NOT USE THIS TIRE ON AN SUV, IT IS A CAR TIRE, AND USE OF THIS TIRE ISN'T APPROVED BY GOODYEAR. THE TIRE SIDEWALL IS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT BECAUSE THE SUV IS HEAVIER THAN A CAR. LEXUS HAS SINCE SWITCHED TO BRIDGESTONE TRUCK TIRES ON THE RX300. WE WOULD LIKE LEXUS TO PAY FOR OUR TIRES TO BE CHANGED OUT TO SAFER, APPROPRIATE TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: M65L TIRESIZE: 225/70R16)
DELAMINATION OF TIRE WIRE FROM MATRX AT 18,000 & 22,000 MILES(TWO TIRES)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P8225/7016 )
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARK AND HER LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALL. TIRES ARE MADE FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING ONLY, AND VEHICLE'S MANUAL DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE TIRES THAT ARE ON THE CAR. DEALERSHIP SAY THE TIRES ARE FACTORY INSTALLED. *AK
DURING HARD ACCELERATION FROM A STANDING START, ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOSES TRACTION AND SPINS FREE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO TO THE LEFT. AFTER TURNING STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE GOES TO THE RIGHT AND BACK OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE TIRE GRABS AND VEHICLE VIOLENTLY GOES TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
Official recalls
299V011000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Jan 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY ILLUMINATE IN LOW AMBIENT LIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS PLACED IN THE "AUTO" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND MAY NOT SEE THE VEHICLE SINCE NO HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD BE ILLUMINATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED BODY ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.
99V012000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:differential Proportional Valve
Jan 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. DUE TO IMPROPER DESIGN OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBE DISTRIBUTION, IF ONE OF THE DUAL BRAKE LINES FAILS WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIES THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WILL FEEL UNSTABLE COMPARED TO VEHICLES WITH PROPER REAR BRAKE TUBE DISTRIBUTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL MODIFIED BRAKE TUBES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.